Alligators to the rescue

Last week I linked to one good reason for saving endangered plants and wildlife: wonder. But there are more practical reasons as well. As I've noted before, not least of these reasons is the fact that many of the pharmaceuticals we take for granted (digitalis is one example) are derived from the other creatures with whom we share the earth. The latest potential contributor to humanity's well being: the American alligator.

All of which is somewhat ironic, of course, considering that we nearly drove alligators to extinction in the first half of the last century. It wasn't until we protected alligators under a predecessors to the Endangered Species Act--a law which sees the wisdom in preserving all forms of life, no matter what its reputation--that alligators began to make a comeback.

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